The second season of Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black quickly attracted tons of fans, turning the series into one of the most popular shows on Netflix seemingly overnight.
If you love Beauty in Black, which follows a stripper who finds herself entangled with the family who runs an enormous beauty empire, Watch With Us has three recommendations of shows for you to check out — they all feature glamour and grit with strong female leads.
Find out why these three shows are a perfect match for Beauty in Black fans now.
‘Savage Beauty’ (2022-Present)
This South African series follows a family-owned beauty empire that’s hiding a dark secret — the founders started their business testing dangerous skin-lightening products on children. In the present day, one of those children infiltrates the business and seeks revenge.
Not only is Savage Beauty a great family drama, it also interrogates beauty standards in the Black community. Set in the highest echelons of Johannesburg society, the series explores a fascinating and layered world through strong performances and shocking twists.
Beauty in Black lovers will appreciate the insights into the cultural specifics of the Black haircare and skincare industries.
Stream Savage Beauty on Netflix.
‘Claws’ (2017-2022)
Niecy Nash-Betts stars in Claws, a crime dramedy about a group of manicurists who start their own crime syndicate. The tight-knit crew, which features Judy Reyes (Scrubs) and Carrie Preston (True Blood), schemes against the machinations of sinister crime boss “Uncle Daddy” (Dean Norris, Breaking Bad) against the colorful and chaotic backdrop of South Florida. This shockingly underrated series is a story of the salon business turned bad with a group of indomitable female leads.
Fans of Beauty in Black will appreciate the dark side of the crime stories, as well as the bold fashion and beauty.
Stream Claws on Hulu.
‘Ugly Betty’ (2006-2010)
While Ugly Betty is definitely more comedic than Beauty in Black, the show follows a similar arc of a woman’s journey from the real world to the elevated world of high fashion and beauty. America Ferrera stars as Betty Suarez, a young woman from Queens who is hired to be a womanizing magazine executive’s secretary in hopes that she’s not attractive enough to tempt him. Before long, however, Betty makes herself an integral part of the Mode magazine team, rising through the ranks and discovering her own beauty along the way.
Beauty in Black fans will love this show for its complex storylines and well-developed characters, as well as beauty icon Vanessa Williams‘ role as the devious Wilhelmina Slater.
